The Mercenary: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #2

Chapter 14: Vanished

He'd lost her. Again.

How did this keep happening?

He'd reached out to her. Over and over again. In kindness. Out of his good nature. In an attempt to touch her soul. And lift her heart.

But that heart seemed to be overly burdened already. Just what exactly was the good princess so afraid of?

"What is it?" he queried quietly as she pulled away from him. "What is terrifying you?"

Her face became a cold mask then. He had probed her agony, and they both knew it. And she didn't like that he recognized her pain. And sought to relieve it.

She was used to relying only on herself. She didn't trust anyone. Least of all, a strange man from a foreign land. Who had to put his own interests – and those of his country – before hers.

"Nothing," she intoned as she held herself erect. "You were right. I am fatigued. I will return to my chambers. Thank you for a," she faltered momentarily, "lovely evening. Goodnight, your highness."

Having dismissed him, she turned to head for her rooms.

"I thought we had made some headway tonight."

She caught his melancholy murmur as she stepped away from him. It made her face fall, but he didn't see it. And she kept moving. She couldn't afford to stand still. Or to back up. Or to turn towards him. The last thing she needed was for him to guess how much he was already moving her heart. It would only make her more vulnerable to him. And that was the last thing in the world that she wanted.

She despised weakness. Especially in herself.

––

Sook Myeong stood near her bench, staring off toward the target field. She couldn't see it from here, but she vividly remembered her encounter there with the prince. She was unaccountably nervous today. Afraid he would discern her movements and appear here. In her sanctum. To disturb her peace. And ruffle her heart.

A twig snapped behind her, and she jumped. She spun around. And sighed with relief as her eyes took in her brother. Coming to meet her. Just as he'd promised.

Another maid had delivered another message from him requesting her presence here this morning.

"Sook Myeong, I want to speak with you about something," he murmured quietly. Seriously.

"What?" she tossed back to him. Feeling defiant for some reason. Probably because she was still smarting from their last conversation.

"I want you to know that – as much as it is in my power to determine – your choice of husband is up to you. I care not if you reject the prince. If you truly don't love him. Or if you suspect that he will not make you a good husband. But, please, don't reject him simply out of spite. I believe him to be a good man. Or else I wouldn't encourage him to..." His voice trailed off.

Her ears perked up. She glanced up sharply at him. "Encourage him? Encourage him to what?"

"To speak with you," he uttered lamely.

She furrowed her brow. "When did you encourage him to speak with me?"

"When he first expressed his interest in you. I told him to take his time getting to know you. To see if there was anything between you."

"Anything between us?" she asked coldly. "How could there be anything between us? We are strangers."

"That doesn't mean there isn't a spark." He glanced at her speculatively. "Is there a spark, Sook Myeong?"